People With Darker Skin At Greater Risk Of Dying From Skin Cancer

A dermatologist is warning Black people to cover-up in the sun after she noticed that many of her darker-skinned patients were unaware of skin cancer risks.

Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd specializes in the cosmetic concerns of multi-hued skin tones. She says that there is a common mis-perception that darker-skinned African-Americans don’t need SPF protection.

Within the U.S., minorities are less likely to be checked, diagnosed and treated for skin cancer in its early detection stages. Because of this, those with darker complexions have a greater risk of dying from skin cancer than their light-skinned counterparts. I cannot stress this enough. Skin cancer is not just a white person’s disease.